Begonia plant named ‘Fibegmissmal’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Begonia  plant named ‘Fibegmissmal’, characterized by its upright to spreading and mounded plant habit; relatively compact; moderately vigorous to vigorous growth habit; freely basal branching habit; dark green-colored leaves; freely and continuously flowering habit; and large single female flowers that are pinkish red in color and large double male flowers that are orangish red in color.

Botanical designation: Begonia hybrida.

Cultivar denomination: ‘FIBEGMISSMAL’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Begonia plant, botanically known as Begonia hybrida, and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Fibegmissmal’.

The new Begonia plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Rheinberg, Germany and De Lier, The Netherlands. The objective of the breeding program was to develop new freely branching and flowering Begonia plants with unique and attractive flower colors.

The new Begonia plant is a naturally-occurring whole plant mutation of Begonia hybrida ‘Fimissmo’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 27,484. The new Begonia plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant from within a population of plants of ‘Fimissmo’ in a controlled greenhouse environment in Rheinberg, Germany on Apr. 17, 2015.

Asexual reproduction of the new Begonia plant by vegetative tip cuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in De Lier, The Netherlands since May 17, 2015 has shown that the unique features of this new Begonia plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Begonia have not been observed under all possible combinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Fibegmissmal’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Fibegmissmal’ as a new and distinct Begonia plant:

-   -   1. Upright to spreading and mounded plant habit; relatively         compact.     -   2. Moderately vigorous to vigorous growth habit.     -   3. Freely basal branching habit.     -   4. Dark green-colored leaves.     -   5. Freely and continuously flowering habit.     -   6. Large single female flowers that are pinkish red in color and         large double male flowers that are orangish red in color.

Plants of the new Begonia can be compared to plants of the mutation parent, ‘Fimissmo’. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Begonia differ primarily from plants of ‘Fimissmo’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Begonia are shorter and broader than plants         of ‘Fimissmo’.     -   2. Plants of the new Begonia have larger leaves than plants of         ‘Fimissmo’.     -   3. Plants of the new Begonia and ‘Fimissmo’ differ in flower         color as plants of ‘Fimissmo’ have cream-colored flowers with         light pink-colored margins.

Plants of the new Begonia can be compared to plants of Begonia hybrida ‘Fiunupfimp’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 27,483. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Begonia differ primarily from plants of ‘Fiunupfimp’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Begonia and ‘Fiunupfimp’ differ in leaf         color as plants of ‘Fiunupfimp’ have dark bronze-colored leaves.     -   2. Plants of the new Begonia have larger flowers than plants of         ‘Fiunupfimp’.     -   3. Plants of the new Begonia have double male flowers whereas         plants of ‘Fiunupfimp’ have single male flowers.     -   4. Plants of the new Begonia and ‘Fiunupfimp’ differ in flower         color as plants of ‘Fiunupfimp’ have bright orange-colored         flowers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying colored photograph illustrates the overall appearance of the new Begonia plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photograph may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Begonia plant.

The photograph is a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Fibegmissmal’ grown in a container.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

Plants used for the aforementioned photograph and following observations and measurements were grown in 12-cm containers during the summer in a glass-covered greenhouse in Rheinberg, Germany. During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 17° C. to 30° C. and night temperatures ranged from 10° C. to 20° C. Plants were eight weeks old when the photograph and the description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2007 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Begonia hybrida ‘Fibegmissmal’. -   Parentage: Naturally-occurring whole plant mutation of Begonia     hybrida ‘Fimissmo’, disclosed in U.S. Plant patent application Ser.     No. 14/545,695. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By vegetative tip cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About 18 days at             temperatures about 22° C. to 30° C.         -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About 21 days at             temperatures about 22° C. to 30° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About 25 days             at temperatures about 22° C. to 30° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About 28 days             at temperatures about 20° C. to 25° C.         -   Root description.—Medium in thickness, fibrous; whitish grey             in color, actual color of the roots is dependent on             substrate composition, water quality, fertilizer type and             formulation, substrate temperature and physiological age of             roots; plants of the new Begonia have not been observed to             form tubers.         -   Rooting habit.—Moderately freely branching; medium density. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant form and growth habit.—Upright to spreading and             mounded plant habit; relatively compact; pendulous with             development; freely basal branching with about three primary             branches; moderately vigorous to vigorous growth habit.         -   Plant height.—About 23 cm.         -   Plant width.—About 34 cm to 46 cm.         -   Lateral branch description.—Length: About 11 cm to 15 cm.             Diameter: About 1 cm. Internode length: About 2 cm to 3 cm.             Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close to 182B.         -   Leaf description.—Arrangement: Alternate, simple. Length:             About 15 cm to 20 cm. Width: About 7 cm to 11 cm. Shape:             Ovate to lanceolate. Apex: Acuminate. Base: Cordate. Margin:             Serrate, Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth,             glabrous. Venation pattern: Palmate; reticulate. Color:             Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to 147A. Developing             leaves, lower surface: Close to 184B. Fully expanded leaves,             upper surface: Close to 139A; venation, close to 138A. Fully             expanded leaves, lower surface: Close to 184B; venation,             close to N77D. Petioles: Length: About 8 cm. Diameter: About             4 mm to 6 mm. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth,             glabrous. Color, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 144D. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flowering habit.—Large male double flowers and single female             flowers arranged in axillary cymes; freely flowering habit             with numerous flowers developing per plant; flowers             pendulous and face outwardly to downwardly.         -   Fragrance.—None detected.         -   Natural flowering season.—Plants in full flower about eight             weeks after planting; long flowering period, in the garden             plants flower freely and continuously throughout the summer             in Northern Europe and can be flowered year-round in             greenhouses.         -   Flower longevity.—Individual flowers last about four weeks             on the plant; flowers persistent.         -   Inflorescence height (including peduncle).—About 16 cm to 20             cm.         -   Inflorescence diameter.—About 8 cm to 12 cm.         -   Female flower buds.—Length: About 1.6 cm to 2 cm. Diameter:             About 1.2 cm. Shape: Ovoid. Texture: Smooth, glabrous.             Color: Close to 49B.         -   Female flowers.—Diameter: About 3.4 cm to 3.6 cm. Depth             (height): About 3 cm.         -   Female flower tepals.—Quantity per flower and arrangement:             Typically five per flower arranged in a single whorl.             Length: About 3 cm. Width: About 2 cm. Shape: Obovate. Apex:             Acute. Base: Cuneate. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and             lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color: When opening, upper             surface: Close to 52B. When opening, lower surface: Close to             49B. Fully opened, upper surface: Close to 52A; color does             not change with development. When opening, lower surface:             Close to 52D; color becoming closer to 52A with development.         -   Female flower tepaloids.—None observed.         -   Female flower peduncles.—Length: About 6 cm to 8 cm.             Diameter: About 4 mm. Angle: About 31° to 45° from vertical.             Strength: Moderately strong. Texture: Smooth, glabrous.             Color: Close to 144D.         -   Female flower pedicels.—Length: About 2 cm to 2.5 cm.             Diameter: About 3 mm. Aspect: About 90° from peduncle axis.             Strength: Moderately strong. Texture: Smooth, glabrous.             Color: Close to 144D.         -   Female flowers reproductive organs.—Quantity of pistils per             flower: Six. Pistil length: About 7 mm. Style length: About             7 mm. Style color: Close to N25C. Stigma shape: Curled.             Stigma color: Close to 21A. Ovary color: Close to N25C.             Fruits and seeds: Fruit and seed development have not been             observed on plants of the new Begonia.         -   Male flower buds.—Length: About 3.5 cm. Diameter: About             3 cm. Shape: Ovoid. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close             to 27B.         -   Male flowers.—Diameter: About 9 cm. Depth (height): About 1             cm.         -   Male flower tepals.—Quantity per flower and arrangement:             Typically about four or five per flower arranged in a single             whorl. Length: About 4.5 cm. Width: About 4.1 cm. Shape:             Ovate to oblanceolate. Apex: Acute. Base: Cordate. Margin:             Entire. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous.             Color: When opening, upper surface: Close to 49A. When             opening, lower surface: Close to 49B. Fully opened, upper             and lower surfaces: Close to 41B; color does not change with             development.         -   Male flower tepaloids.—Quantity per flower and arrangement:             Typically about 18 arranged in multiple whorls. Length:             About 3.8 cm. Width: About 2.6 cm. Shape: Oblanceolate.             Apex: Obtuse. Base: Cuneate. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper             and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color: When opening,             upper surface: Close to 49A. When opening, lower surface:             Close to 49B. Fully opened, upper and lower surfaces: Close             to 41B; color does not change with development.         -   Male flower peduncles.—Length: About 9 cm to 11 cm.             Diameter: About 4 mm. Angle: About 31° to 45° from vertical.             Strength: Moderately strong. Texture: Smooth, glabrous.             Color: Close to 144D.         -   Male flower pedicels.—Length: About 2 cm. Diameter: About 2             mm to 3 mm. Aspect: About 90° from peduncle axis. Strength:             Moderately strong. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close             to 144D.         -   Male flowers reproductive organs.—None observed; all             transformed into tepaloids. -   Pathogen & pest resistance: Resistance to pathogens and pests common     to Begonia plants has not been observed on plants of the new     Begonia. -   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Begonia have been observed     to tolerate temperatures ranging from about 4° C. to about 35° C. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Begonia plant named ‘Fibegmissmal’ as illustrated and described. 